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| A sinkhole/hole collapsed on Jalan Raya Muharto, Malang City, East Java, on Monday (21/10). --Photo: Tribun Jatim |
MALANG, PEWARTA.CO.ID - Residents of Malang City were shocked by the collapse of a section of Muharto Main Road in Kedungkandang District on Monday (October 21, 2024).
The incident occurred near the entrance to Jalan Muharto Gang 6. As a result of this event, a massive sinkhole formed, measuring 9 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and around 1.5 meters in depth.
One local resident, Jupri, provided a statement about the incident. He noted that the road began to give way at approximately 05:30 WIB.
“So, it collapsed around 05:30 WIB. At that time, the traffic flow in the area was still relatively quiet, so no road users or residents were harmed,” Jupri explained, as quoted by TribunJatim.com.
Jupri also mentioned that there had been signs of the road weakening prior to the collapse. On Sunday afternoon (October 20, 2024), the area had been hit by heavy rain.
At around 19:00 WIB, Jupri observed that the road surface had started to become uneven, and part of it had already slightly sunk. By 23:00 WIB, cracks along the road were clearly visible, worsening the condition.
“Then, around 23:00 WIB, the asphalt began to crack. But it was still passable for vehicles, and only this morning did the entire section give way,” Jupri added.
He also revealed that beneath the collapsed road lies a drainage culvert, which channels water to the Brantas River. It is highly likely that this drainage system played a significant role in the road collapse.
The heavy rain from the previous day is suspected to have exacerbated the situation, causing the culvert beneath the surface to be unable to support the weight of the road above it. This instability ultimately led to the collapse of the road.
Following the incident, the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing, and Settlement Areas Agency (DPUPRPKP) of Malang City responded swiftly. As of 11:49 WIB on Monday (October 21), a small excavator was already deployed to the site to begin repair work on the collapsed section.
Additionally, the area around the sinkhole has been cordoned off to prevent vehicle and pedestrian access to the hazardous zone. These measures were taken to ensure the safety of residents and road users while repair work is underway.
